IEBC tribunal throws out petition challenging Sakaja’s clearance
Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja can now heave a sigh of relief after the IEBC Disputes Resolution Committee dismissed a complaint challenging his eligibility to contest for governorship in the August polls.
The committee dismissed the complaint, saying it lacks jurisdiction to determine the validity of Sakaja's degree.
" This committee lacks the jurisdiction to investigate the authenticity of the degree of Sakaja. We, therefore, dismiss the complaint," the George Murugu-led committee ruled.
While dismissing the complaint by Dennis Gakuu, the committee stated that the returning officer discharged his mandate by the law and the complaint lacks merit.
"The IEBC lacks tools to investigate and undertake inquiries into the validity and legitimacy of academic certificates and credentials supplied to it by various political candidates but merely acts in trust on the face value of the documents," the committee ruled.
Gakuu had argued that Sakaja's degree is not genuine as he never graduated from the Team University in Uganda as he claims.
Through lawyer Paul Nyamodi, the voter informs the IEBC tribunal that the allegations that Sakaja holds a valid university degree are false.
"Sakaja cannot be cleared to view based on a forged degree certificate and is therefore liable for criminal Prosecution for forgery and fraudulent misrepresentation," says Gakuu.
He further wants orders recommending the institution of criminal proceedings against Sakaja for the stipulated fraud and forgery.
Gakuu adds that from information he has gathered from Teams University, also in Uganda, Sakaja did not study there.
He states that according to a graduation list for October 21, 2016, which Sakaja claims to have graduated, his name is not on the list. Only six students graduated with a Bachelor's degree in science in management, and Sakaja is not one of the graduands.
